Compliant biocompatible polymer compositions for medical uses

A biocompatible polymer composition, comprising at least a first polymer phase and a second polymer phase;

• wherein the first polymer phase has at least one first wet thermal transition temperature selected from a first wet glass transition temperature and a first wet melting point, the first wet thermal transition temperature being at least 38° C.;
• the first polymer phase comprising a number (n) of first recurring units of formula (I):
• wherein:
• X1 and X2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, halomethyl, halomethoxy, methyl, methoxy, thiomethyl, nitro, sulfoxide, and sulfonyl;
• y1 and y2 indicate the number of X1 and X2 groups, respectively, and are each independently zero or an integer in the range of 1 to 4;
• q and r are each independently zero or one, where q+r=1 or 2;
• each A1 is independently selected from the group consisting of
• each R3 is independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C30 alkyl, C1-C30 heteroalkyl, C5-C30 aryl, C6-C30 alkylaryl, and C2-C30 heteroaryl;
• each R4 independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C30 alkyl, and C1-C30 heteroalkyl;
• each R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of
• provided that when R1 is
• Q1 is COOR4 and when R1 is
• R5 is selected from the group consisting of —CH═CH—, —CHJ1-CHJ2-, —(CH2)a—, optionally ring-halogenated
• and optionally ring-halogenated
• in which case q=0;
• R6 is selected from the group consisting of —CH═CH—, —CHJ1-CHJ2-, —(CH2)a—, optionally ring-halogenated
• and optionally ring-halogenated
• in which case r=0;
• each a is independently zero or an integer in the range of 1 to 8;
• J1 and J2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of Br and I;
• each Z is independently an O or an S;
• and
• Q1 and Q4 are each independently H, CH2—R4, COOR4 or a crystallizable group comprising from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms;
• Q2 and Q3 are each independently H, CH2—R4, or a crystallizable group comprising from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms;
• the second polymer phase having at least one second wet thermal transition temperature selected from a second wet glass transition temperature and a second wet melting point, the second wet thermal transition temperature being 36° C. or lower, the second polymer phase comprising a number (m) of second recurring units;
• wherein the number (n) and the number (m) are selected to control the relative amounts of the first polymer phase and the second polymer phase so that (a) the polymer composition is phase-separated over at least the temperature range of about 25° C. to about 50° C., (b) the polymer composition has a water content of 4.5% or less as measured after soaking for 24 hours at 37° C. in 0.1 M phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.4;
• and (c) the polymer composition has either (i) a modulus of elasticity less than about 50 ksi or (ii) a glass transition temperature of less than about 37° C.